This is totally different than my other stories because it's Russ-centric. I like his character and there are no other stories that I can find that have him at the center. There will be glimpses of the other characters and maybe a bit more of Mike than the others. I don't own any of these characters, other than the ones I created or named. Please enjoy and review. I love reading them!

Found Love

Chapter 1

The famine was over and it had become a matter of rebuilding the country. A country that had been ravished first by the Red Flu and then by the Red Rust. Its government had all but been gutted and the citizens were suspicious. They didn't trust easily, rightfully so. Russ Jeter was in between deployments but he was by no means on R and R. Admiral Slattery had requested him to help with training the new cadets at the training facility. He also helped both Admiral Slattery and Chandler write new policies for the military as a whole. He was under Captain Garnett's command when he did deploy.

He couldn't complain about helping. Mike Slattery was a little more relaxed in his command style than what Tom Chandler had been. Russ liked both styles but felt the crews did better under Mike's and it made him more relatable to the young cadets, most of which were orphans. His command style had rubbed off on Garnett which in turn made things easier for Russ. Russ also helped at a couple of the inner city youth projects, something he believed in wholeheartedly. Another thing he got to do is counsel past and present members of the Nathan James crew.

It was a Saturday morning, and Russ was off work. He had bought a small fixer upper in the same neighborhood as what Admiral Chandler, Slattery and Captain Garnett and a few other crew members lived in. He had had plans of tearing out the flooring in the living room, restoring it plank by plank and then putting it back down after he fixed the subfloor. However, he had gotten a text from Mike Slattery, wanting to meet for breakfast. He knew it was Mike's younger daughter's birthday and the man was having a lot of trouble dealing with it. He still hadn't found his wife or daughters and the reality was, they were probably dead. It was the unknowns that bothered Mike and Russ couldn't imagine what he went through. At least Russ knew the fate of his wife and daughters, Mike had never gotten that peace, almost five years after the Red Flu had killed millions. So Russ suggested a small diner close to their neighborhood. When he walked in; Mike was sitting at the corner table and looked terrible. He had apparently not slept and didn't look like he had shaved either.

"Sir, good morning." Russ sat down across from Mike. The sadness in the man's eyes was obvious. It made Russ hurt for him.

"Please, it's just Mike here. I ordered coffee for both of us but held off on ordering food." The waitress, an attractive woman named Josie, showed up with their coffee and menus. Russ had talked to her a few times before and had felt an odd attraction to her. He had even thought about asking her to dinner but it had never felt right. She was a little younger than him, also African American but lighter toned and with mysterious green eyes and she had a hilarious sense of humor. He knew she had two kids, a fourteen year old son, Alex and an eight year old daughter, Sophie. Her husband had died during the Red Flu and she waitressed as many hours as she could. Russ concentrated back on his menu and gave his order.

"I'll have the breakfast special with hash browns, white toast and scrambled eggs." Josie wrote everything down and then looked to Mike.

"What can we get you this fine morning?" Josie had an airy personality, one that Mike didn't necessarily respond well to, especially on that particular day.

"I'll also have the breakfast special but instead of hash browns, I want fried potatoes and instead of toast I want a biscuit with a bowl of gravy, and scrambled eggs. Keep the coffee comin.'" As soon as Josie walked away, Mike let out a groan. At least he had kept it to himself while she was present. "I like Josie but how can a person be so upbeat all the time?"

"Hard to say. I think it's her personality. How are you today? I know its Hannah's birthday."

"I was trying to forget about that. Easier said than done." Mike looked out the window, as if he was trying to look for a way to escape from the conversation.

"Sir…Mike, you need to talk about her. It's healthy. Tell me about her. How old would she be?" It was a dangerous thing to do in public but Russ knew that Mike wouldn't meltdown in public.

"She was eight when I left so she would be thirteen today. I would imagine if she was alive, she would be completely different than what I remember. The last Halloween I was home, she dressed up as a warrior princess. That's pretty descriptive of her actually. She was tough as nails but she loved nothing more than crawling up on my lap. My oldest girl, Laura Kate, was all mature and wanted nothing to do with her old dad but Hannah was different." Russ had noticed that Mike spoke of both of his daughters in the past tense, which told him that Mike had given up all hope of them having survived. It was a stark reality.

"How old would Laura Kate be now?"

"Nineteen and Lucas would have been twelve." Mike was still looking out the windows but was obviously not seeing what was going on the other side. He was in the past. "Doesn't matter, they are gone and I am here. God knows, I was far from the perfect husband or father but this just seems so…lonely. How have you done it?"

"Everyone has a different coping mechanism. Mine was religion. You have to find yours. So have the detectives not found anything?" Russ knew that Mike had hired private detectives and had done his own searching.

"They tell me to just give it up, until of course it's time for me to pay them. I have to wonder how hard they have looked. I can't get sucked into it because if I do, I am no good to anyone. So, here we sit. Different subject, but I think Josie likes you. She was asking about you before you got here."

"Asking about me?" Russ knew he should concentrate on Mike but for some reason Josie had caught his attention from across the room.

"Yep. I told her you were a widower and was not currently seeing anyone. You should take her to dinner."

"Well, aren't you just so subtle? I am shocked that you didn't just set up a date." Russ would not typically tease Mike but he knew that the man needed the laugh.

"If you need me to, I will." As if on cue, Josie walked over with their breakfast. Russ shook his head at Mike but he had an ornery look on his face. "So, Josie, I was thinking, Russ here, he is too shy to ask you on a date so I am for him. How about tonight, seven pm, at that Italian place? Russ can pick you up at your place and I promise, he will be a complete gentleman."

"Sir, getting a reservation at that place…" Russ was embarrassed by Mike's lack of tact.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I will handle it. It may be in my name though but you two kids should enjoy. So, what do you say, Josie?"

"Uh…well, I have my daughter tonight, I can't leave her alone. I'd like to but…"

"She's what? Eight? I can watch her." Russ was in total shock because Mike was not a meddler. It made him wonder if Mike needed to be around a kid. He almost looked hopeful.

"How about this, I pick you both up at six thirty; we take your daughter to Mike and then go to dinner? She'll be alright with him." Russ couldn't believe he was even suggesting it, but he wanted to help Mike. He wasn't sure if the hopeful look was because of the matchmaking or the prospect of spending some time with an eight year old. Josie knew both men well enough that she would trust her daughter with Mike.

"I suppose. I will write my address down. Eat up." Josie walked away and Mike busted up laughing. Russ threw a straw at him.

"You realize, I haven't been on a date in over twenty years? And what's with you volunteering to watch Sophie?"

"I will have you know, I watched Frankie and the baby for an hour last week so Kara could go to the store without a toddler and a three month old. They both survived. Of course, Frankie got into my stash of junk food but I had that cleaned up by the time Kara got back. Course, he was so hyper he was practically vibrating." Mike routinely 'babysit' the Green's two young children because they were neighbors. Frankie adored Mike and the baby, Hadley, also seemed to really like him. It seemed to be cathartic for Mike to be around kids and he had become a favorite 'uncle.'

"Didn't answer my question." Russ took a bite of his food and looked to Mike suspiciously.

"I just want to see someone happy. I can't date, won't date until I know for sure. Everyone I know is with someone except for you and Garnett."

"So you have fixated on me? What about her?"

"I am working on that. She's resistant." Russ would have never thought of Mike as a matchmaker but it was oddly funny.

"Or she's holding out for you?"

"Oh, she understands my reasoning. I just can't go there. Things weren't great with Christine but she deserves my faithfulness even if it means that I will be alone for the rest of my life." Russ caught a bit of sadness in Mike's voice again. It was something he understood all too well. He hadn't even looked at another woman and he knew for a fact that his wife, Trish was dead. He couldn't imagine being in Mike's shoes.

"You won't be alone and I do understand." It was something that Russ had struggled with. Being alone was a scary thought. All he could hope for was that Mike got some sort of closure so he could move on with his life at some point. Josie walked back over with their tickets and Mike grabbed both and then handed Russ a slip of paper with an address and apartment number written on it. Mike had another impish look on his face and Russ just prayed that he kept the date to himself.

"I will make your reservation for seven on the dot. You'd best enjoy yourself because I am going to a lot of trouble."

"Of course. You do realize, there is going to be a payback." Both men had stood up and Mike paid the bill. Russ threw the tip down on the table and waved at Josie who was busy with another customer.

"See you tonight." Josie hollered above the crowd and gave Russ a beautiful smile. For the first time, Russ found himself looking forward to the date.